UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has reaffirmed her previous statements about Nigeria after Vice President Kashim Shettima accused her of portraying the country negatively.
Badenoch, who was born in the UK but raised in Nigeria, has frequently highlighted the challenges of her upbringing in a nation marked by insecurity and corruption.
In a speech earlier this week, Shettima suggested that Badenoch could “remove the Kemi from her name” if she was not proud of her heritage. Despite this, Badenoch remains steadfast. A spokesperson for her stated, “She stands by what she says and is not the PR for Nigeria.” The spokesperson added, “She is proud of her leadership of the opposition in this country. She tells the truth and does not sugarcoat her words.”
During a speech in Abuja, Shettima expressed pride in Badenoch despite her criticisms, stating, “She is entitled to her opinions. She even has the right to remove the Kemi from her name. But this does not change the fact that Nigeria remains the greatest black nation on earth.” He contrasted Badenoch’s approach to that of Rishi Sunak, the UK’s first prime minister of Indian heritage, praising Sunak for never speaking poorly about his ancestral homeland.
Badenoch’s comments about Nigeria often reflect her personal experiences. Born Olukemi Adegoke in Wimbledon in 1980, she lived in Lagos during her childhood and moved to the United States before returning to the UK at age 16 due to Nigeria’s deteriorating political and economic climate. At the Conservative Party conference earlier this year, Badenoch described growing up in Lagos as living in “fear everywhere,” recalling the constant threat of burglary and violence.
These experiences, she explained, shaped her political views and her rejection of socialism. During a recent tour of the US, Badenoch referred to Lagos as “a place where almost everything seemed broken.”
Her remarks have drawn both criticism and praise. While Shettima and others have accused her of denigrating Nigeria, Badenoch maintains that her statements are honest reflections of her lived experiences. Her spokesperson reiterated that she will continue to “tell it like it is.”
